serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 213

Gulou East Street

Study outside Meifu

Wang Rulin was sitting on the guest chair against the wall with Deng Hanlin from the Hanlin Academy, and was waiting for Mei Changwen at the moment.

Deng Hanlin couldn't bear it any longer, he stood up and went to the door and opened the thick cotton curtain.

A gust of cold wind blew in, Deng Hanlin hurriedly put down the door curtain, walked back to the chair and sat down.

Wang Rulin: "I've been there for two hours, why hasn't there been any news?"

Deng Hanlin: "This is a huge case of Tongtian, and we should be more cautious."

As soon as the words were finished, a gust of cold wind came in through the thick curtain, and Mei Changwen walked in from the outside.

Wang Rulin stood up: "How about it, did you find anything?"

Mei Changwen: "No. However, a Jia family's carriage was blocked. The Jia family's soldiers and the guards of the Zhongshun Palace clashed. The two sides fought in front of the two princes, officials from the Ministry of Punishment, the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the Infantry Yamen. Finally, they used a knife. Fortunately, no one was killed."

Deng Hanlin: "Who is in the carriage?"

Mei Changwen shook his head: "The entire carriage was covered tightly, fearing that people would die, so the Jia family's carriage was sent back to the camp."

After a pause, "I just heard the news that there was a rumor in the Yamen of the Ministry of War that the person who delivered the military supplies vaguely heard the cry of a woman in the camp."

Wang Rulin was excited: "Great!"

Deng Hanlin: "As long as those people come forward to provide evidence, they can request an order to search the camp."

Wang Rulin went on to say: "This is a good opportunity! Let's give him a good blow, discredit the Jia family and the Yongwei camp, and make them become street rats and be reviled by the common people!"

Deng Hanlin nodded.

Mei Changwen shook his head, "Don't get involved in this matter!"

Wang Rulin and Deng Hanlin looked at Mei Changwen together: "Why?"

Mei Changwen: "This incident is weird inside and out. Even if someone robs the village women, they will not hide them in the military camp. There are articles here."

Wang Rulin and Deng Hanlin looked at each other in surprise, and then looked at Mei Changwen together.

Mei Changwen walked away slowly, and said, "This should be someone playing chess, and all of us are chess pieces on the chessboard. Besides, the Jia family's reaction is too abnormal. No matter how you look at it, it looks like a trap. Jia Amnesty doesn't just drink wine and marry a concubine. They are a generation of people who are ruthless, and we don't want to go through this muddy water." After speaking, he walked straight out.

Wang Rulin and Deng Hanlin looked at each other and shouted at the same time: "Mei Yushi!"

Mei Changwen stopped but didn't look back: "The two princes either lost their heads or knew what was going on behind the scenes. The lessons from the previous few times should also be remembered, and they should not be easily used by others. Let them take the lead. When the time comes, we will decide according to the situation." After finishing this sentence, he walked out without turning back.

The two looked at each other with questioning eyes, and then recalled that Mei Changwen did not intend to follow in the footsteps of King Zhongshun and King Yizhong, but had to follow his own judgment and go his own way.

Rongguofu

Jia Mu Yuan Zhong
The wind stopped, but it felt even colder. The women guarding the corridor were all wearing thick cotton padded clothes at this time, and they kept stomping their feet to avoid the cold, but saw a group of daughters-in-law and maids surrounded by Wang Xifeng coming in from the courtyard gate.

Several women hurriedly went up to pay their respects.

Wang Xifeng shook her hand and went straight to Jia Mu's main room.

As soon as I entered, I saw that the house was full of pearls and emerald greens, and the girls were all in Jiamu's house.

Jia's mother sat on the soft couch at the top, and on the embroidered pier beside her was a cheap relative, Grandma Liu.

Jia's mother seemed to be in a good mood by Grandma Liu.

Wang Xifeng smiled, for this cheap relative, she always had unspeakable complexities in her heart, her words were vulgar, but eloquent, and she was good at observing words and expressions.

This is the second time Grandma Liu has come to Jia's house, and she has lived there for two days. Once again, she has won everyone's love with her humor, especially Jia's mother.

Yingchun, Tanchun, Baochai and Xing Xiuyan sat together to play Go, obviously Tanchun and Xing Xiuyan won more, and there was a lot of money piled up in front of them.

Lin Daiyu, Xiangyun and Xichun were sitting around a big brazier, talking and laughing while looking at Jiamu and the others.

Wang Xifeng thought for a while, and called the servant girl to move the chair over, "Give me a seat!"

Lin Daiyu: "Are you done?"

Wang Xifeng nodded.

Xichun sighed: ".It's time to eat again."

Xiangyun smiled: "Hey, what jokes do you think Grandma Liu will make later?"

Xichun's eyes lit up.

Wang Xifeng smiled: "Didn't those fields of peonies in Huifang Garden be lost? Grandma Liu said it's a pity that such a good land is empty. I will send some melon and vegetable seeds to plant in the next year."

Lin Daiyu, Xiangyun, and Xichun looked at each other and smiled.

Suddenly, a little maid shouted from outside: "It's snowing, it's snowing!"

Xiangyun became excited, and said to Xichun: "Let's go to the back garden to catch the snowman." He said and ran out in a hurry.

Xichun happily followed out.

Wang Xifeng said to Lin Daiyu, "You don't care about her?"

Lin Daiyu just smiled and didn't answer.

Wang Xifeng took a sip from the tea bowl in the maid's hand, glanced at Grandma Liu who was joking with Jia's mother, handed the tea bowl to the maid, leaned over to Lin Daiyu and asked in a low voice, "I just heard from Wang Shanbao's family that Grandma Liu went directly to the grand master's study when she entered the house. Do you know what's going on?"

Lin Daiyu stared at Wang Xifeng for a while, then smiled suddenly: "Second brother Lian has been promoted, and you have returned with courage."

Wang Xifeng smiled and said: "Forget about your mouth, I just asked casually. Hey, I heard from the people in the second wife's courtyard that the second master was promoted to the first rank by the Minister of Industry, and he will be promoted to a higher rank at the end of the year. In addition, he will be promoted to a higher rank in the year-end performance appraisal of the Ministry of Officials, which is the fourth rank."

Speaking of this, he sighed, "I just feel sorry for my second uncle. Not only did he lose an arm, but he also lost his title. It's a waste of work."

Lin Daiyu stood up: "The old lady is here."

"Come on, let's go to the flower hall and sit down."

Mother Jia pulled Grandma Liu over and asked Wang Xifeng, "Are you ready?"

Wang Xifeng greeted her with a smile, and said, "It's been prepared a long time ago, just wait for the old lady to pass."

Mother Jia nodded with a smile, looked at Lin Daiyu lovingly, and said, "It's snowing outside, put on your cloak."

Lin Daiyu: "Yes."

It was snowing heavily, and the sky was full of noise. Due to the heavy snow, the ground was already completely white in less than half an hour.

On Dongshi Street, Jia Yucun’s face was cloudy. At this time, he was wearing a coarse cotton robe and a cloth hat with a brim draped back. He held an umbrella in his left hand and was searching for something in the crowd.

Jia Yucun was silent, and walked over after a while.

It was the busiest time, but there were only three or two tables of people sitting in the spacious hall.

The waiter immediately greeted him with a smile on his face, and took the umbrella in Jia Yucun's hand: "Who are you? The hall or the private room?"

Jia Yucun didn't speak, and went straight to the counter.

A sharp-eyed old man in charge of the counter greeted him quickly, looked around, and lowered his voice: "Uncle Zhang has something to go out, please sit upstairs in the private room for a while." Then he gave up his hand.

Jia Yucun nodded and followed the old steward to the second floor.

In a private room facing the street on the second floor

Zhang Bo, the old housekeeper of Yizhong County Wangfu, stood by the window and watched the snowflakes falling one after another outside the window, his eyes sparkled.

Behind him stood a wretched little official.

The old steward opened the door and came in, and whispered in the old steward's ear: "Uncle Zhang, Jia Yucun is here."

The old butler waved his hand.

The old steward turned and walked out.

After being silent for a while, the old housekeeper said: "Don't be nervous. I won't harm you because of the years you and I have been together. However, if I want to use it to make a fuss, I can only enter the camp to search if you come forward to provide evidence."

The little official was stunned: "You've exposed your identity just by coming out, so why don't you put all the brothers in?"

The old housekeeper: "You are confused, if I want to harm you, should I discuss it with you?"

The little official said, "But."

The old housekeeper: "When the time comes, you all insist that Jia Yucun ordered it. He sent the errand to send the military supplies to the camp, and he asked you to spread the news. Don't worry, it's none of your business."

The little official: "This, can this work? He is the left servant of the Ministry of War."

The old butler sneered: "Don't you look at who the judge is. There is the loyal prince, and the prince and the Metropolitan Procuratorate. What are you afraid of? As long as you insist, it's useless for him to grow a tongue. Besides, we are going to punish Jia's family, not at him. No way, he can still benefit from it."

He paused at this point, and then said: "This is also for you, Jiayu Village is overcast, and there is a lot of chaos in the military department, so he didn't take any action. When the twelfth lunar month is free, he will definitely take action to send you away.

Not to mention far away, when he took office in Jinling Mansion, he would advise him and his old friends who had witnessed the whole process from poverty to prosperity were dispatched to the army. "

The little official was taken aback when he heard that.

The old butler snorted, "Do you think he will let you go?"

The little official looked timidly at the old housekeeper.

There was a smug smile on the old housekeeper's face: "Hey, this is a good thing. Prince Zhongshun made a bad temper, and Jia Yucun became his own. You have been promoted. Do you understand this time?"

The little official: "Oh"

At this time, the old housekeeper withdrew his smile: "Let's put the ugly words up front. If you dare to betray the water, I will let your family even die as an extravagant hope!"

The little official shuddered: "I understand."

The old butler nodded: "Go quickly."

The little official: "Yes." He ran out like Fei Ye.

The old butler snorted and walked out.

In another private room.

Jia Yucun sat there, motionless, and the table of wine and food in front of him remained motionless.

After an unknown amount of time, the door was pushed open.

The old butler came over and filled Jia Yucun's wine, then sat down on the other side, filled it up for himself, raised it with both hands: "I am late, I will punish myself for a glass." After speaking, he drank the wine in the glass.

Jia Yucun still didn't say anything, just drank the wine silently.

The old butler chuckled: "Are you here because of the rumors from the Ministry of War?"

Jia Yucun nodded.

The old housekeeper: "I just found out about it not too long ago. They heard that Prince Zhongshun offered a reward to collect evidence. I was so angry because of that reward! Decent people are looking for them everywhere. Don't worry, I will never cover them up, and the prince will teach them severely."

Jia Yucun was stunned angrily when he heard him say the matter so lightly.

The old housekeeper looked at Jia Yucun and said: "I am going to look for you. You probably heard that the Jia family's carriage was blocked in the camp, and the people have not been transferred out yet. But now there is a troublesome thing, Jia Rui went to the camp. Things have completely changed. The lord wants to bring Zhen Fu's child back no matter what. So, I hope you can testify that the child is Zhen Fu's son."

After hearing his words, Jia Yucun took a deep breath. Isn't this telling everyone that Jia Rui is a bastard!

This is the kind that slaps the Jia family in the face, makes enemies with the Jia family, and never ends!

At this moment, the door was pushed open again, and a steward hurried over and whispered something in the ear of the old steward.

The old housekeeper pretended to be surprised, and then shouted loudly: "A bunch of bastards who are blind to money!"

Jia Yucun sensed something and stared at him intently.

The old housekeeper smiled wryly: "It's still a step late. Those people went outside the city. In front of Prince Zhongshun and all the officials, they told about the delivery of military supplies to the Yongwei Camp that day and said that they followed your orders."

Jia Yucun turned pale with anger: "You set me up!"

The old housekeeper was startled: "What do you mean?"

Jia Yucun was so angry that smoke came out of his nostrils: "Seeing that you can't pour dirty water on Jia's body, you want me to take care of you!"

The old housekeeper suddenly asked: "Master Jia, do you remember what happened in the Gourd Temple back then?"

When Jia Yucun heard this, he was shocked and froze there.

The old housekeeper smiled slyly: "Lord Jia, an old friend asked me to say hello to you, and attached a poem: We will be reunited every three or five days, and the jade fence is full of sunshine. It is only held in the sky, and everyone in the world looks up."

Jia Yucun was stunned for a while, his mouth moved, but he didn't say anything.

The old housekeeper: "This is also helping you. Jia Amnesty knew about it a long time ago. He is waiting for Jia Hu to return to Beijing. At that time, no one can keep you. Sooner or later, you will tear your face. Long-term pain is worse than short-term pain. If you make trouble with him, you may be able to get promoted. Come, Mr. Jia, take a look at this." He took out a piece of paper from his arms and handed it to Jia Yucun.

Jia Yucun took Zhan Kan, his eyes lit up: "Is this the handwriting of the Supreme Emperor?"

The old housekeeper smiled and said, "Do you understand this time? Zhen Fu is a very important chess piece, which is very useful and must be firmly grasped." Then, he took the "manual order" and stuffed it into his bosom, "The Supreme Emperor also said that he will not only entrust you with the mission of the official department, but also give you a title."

Jia Yucun's face softened: "Then I will thank you in advance."

The old housekeeper: "This is a good thing. From now on, Mr. Jia will become the confidant of the Supreme Emperor and the minister of the future emperor." After finishing speaking, he got up and poured wine for Jia Yucun, then filled it up for himself, and raised his hands: "Come on, let's drink this glass of celebration wine in advance!" and drank it in one gulp.

Jia Yucun: "Okay." After answering, he picked up the glass of wine in front of him and drank it down in one gulp.

The steward came in again, looked at Jia Yu Village, and then said: "Uncle Zhang, Prince Zhongshun has requested an imperial decree, and Chief Dai went out of the city with the gold medal himself."

The old housekeeper looked at Jia Yucun with a smile: "Then I'll bother Mr. Jia for a walk."

Jia Yucun nodded.

Rongguofu

Study outside the courtyard on East Road
It's snowing cold outside, but warm like spring inside.

Jia Amnesty stood by the window and looked at the snowflakes falling one after another outside the window. In the heavy snow, Jiao Da came in through the moon gate of the courtyard with an umbrella.

The door curtain was lifted, and Jiao Da walked in, "My lord, Jia Yucun has left the city."

A cold light flashed in Jia She's eyes, "Where's Mei Changwen?"

Jiao Da: "I have been staying in the mansion since I came back from outside the city, and I didn't go out."

Jia She sneered, "It's his sense of humor." Then he said to Jiao Da: "As soon as the things from Wanping arrive, they will be sent to the palace immediately."

Jiao Da: "Yes." Turned around and walked out.

(End of this chapter)